If you have completed your studies outside of Canada, you may be required to provide proof of one or more of the following:
- Secondary Education: A minimum of two years of full-time secondary-level education (in the final two years of study) in a country where English is the official first language.
- Post-Secondary or Higher Education: A minimum of one year of full-time post-secondary or higher education in a country where English is the official first language.
If English is not your first language, you can meet Niagara College’s admission requirements by submitting one of the accepted language proficiency test scores listed below.
The chart provided reflects general admission requirements and may differ from country-specific criteria. For full details, please refer to the country-specific requirements available on our Application Portal.
NOTE: Language proficiency test results are valid for a period of two years from the test date.
| Language Proficiency Test | Minimum score for undergraduate diplomas, certificates and international nursing programs | Minimum score for graduate and degree programs | Minimum score for Pharmacy Technician program* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge English Exams (B2 First/FCE, C1 Advanced/CAE or C2 Proficiency/CPE) | 169 – No skill under 162. | 176 – No skill under 169. | – |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) including Indicator Test ** | 6.0 – No individual band under 5.5. | 6.5 – No individual band under 5.5. | Reading – 7.0, Listening – 7.0, Speaking – 7.0, Writing – 6.5 |
| Internet-based (IBT) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) including Special Home Edition Test | iBT: 80, Minimum 20 in Writing and Speaking OR Minimum 4.0 overall, with a minimum of 4.0 in each section | iBT: 85, Minimum 22 in Writing and Speaking OR Minimum 4.5 overall, with a minimum of 4.5 in Writing and 4.0 in Speaking | – |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) *** | 58+, with no individual skill below 53 | 60+, with no individual skill below 57 | – |
| Duolingo English Language Test | 105+, with no individual subscore below 95 | 120+, with no individual subscore below 100 | – |
|
Oxford ELLT and Pre-Sessional English Niagara College applicants who register for the Oxford ELLT Digital through the above link may use discount code NIA10 to receive the special price of $198 CAD (savings of $22 CAD). |
6.0 – No individual band under 5.0 | 7.0 – No individual band under 6.0 | |
| Canadian Academic English Language Test (CAEL) including CAEL Online Proficiency Test | 60 – No individual band under 50. | 60 – No individual band under 50. | – |
| Niagara College’s English for Academic Preparation program (EAP) OR English as a Second Language (ESL) Online program | Completion of English for Academic Preparation (EAP) Level 5 with 70% and no individual grade under 50% OR English as a Second Language (ESL) Online exit test. | Completion of English for Academic Preparation (EAP) Level 5 with 75% and no individual grade under 60% OR English as a Second Language (ESL) Online exit test. | – |
* Requirements set by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities – NAPRA 2024. The language proficiency requirements listed under this column apply to the Pharmacy Technician program only.
** Niagara College recognizes the IELTS Academic tests. The IELTS General tests are not accepted for admissions to academic programs or placement into English for Academic Purposes levels.
*** Niagara College recognizes the PTE Academic tests. The PTE Online tests are not accepted for admissions to academic programs or placement into English for Academic Purposes levels.
**** The above minimum language proficiency scores are effective February 12th, 2024.
Please note that meeting or exceeding the minimum score requirements does not guarantee admission to Niagara College, and minimum score requirements are subject to change based on program demand. Niagara College reserves the right to add and remove language proficiency tests at any time.
Duolingo test certificates must be submitted with the Shareable Public Test Certificate Link OR Shared Results within the platform.
Questions about English language requirements for post-secondary and post-graduate programs at Niagara College?
Be placed into the English for Academic Preparation Program at the level best suited to your skills.
The score ranges below are for planning purposes only and offer an estimate of where you may be placed in Niagara College’s EAP program.
Applicants are placed in one of the following ways (never both):
- Complete the Niagara College language proficiency placement test during orientation.
- Submit valid test results from one of the following:
- IELTS (within 1 year)
- Duolingo English Test (within 6 months)
- TOEFL iBT (within 1 year)
- PTE Academic (within 1 year)
Note: Level placements are carefully reviewed and may be adjusted based on demonstrated language ability during the first week of classes.
| EAP Level | CLB | CEFR | IELTS (Academic) | Duolingo** | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 / 3 | A1 | 1.5 - 2.5 | 20 – 45 | 0 - 16 | 0 - 14 |
| 2 | 3 / 4 | A2 | 3.0 - 3.5 (up to one band lower than 2.5) | 50 – 65 no indiv subscore below 50 | 17 - 32 | 15 - 29 |
| 3 | 5 / 6 | B1 | 4.0 - 4.5 (up to one band lower than 3) | 70 – 85 no indiv subscore below 70 | 33 - 44 | 30 - 42 |
| 4 | 6 / 7 | B1+ | 5.0 (up to one band lower than 4.5) | 85 – 90 no indiv subscore below 58 | 45 - 59 | 43 - 50 |
| 5 | 8 / 8.5 | B2 | 5.5 / 6.0 (up to two bands between 4.5 and 6) | 95 – 100 no indiv subscore below 90 | 60 - 78 | 51 - 57 |
** No integrated subscore can be less than 10 pts below total score. As of July, 2024, Duolingo has both “integrated” and “individual” sub-scores broken down below the “Total/overall” score; no integrated sub-score can be less than 10 points below the total score.
For information regarding English language proficiency requirements for Niagara College Post-Secondary, Certificate, Post-Graduate and Degree programs, please refer to the Language Proficiency chart at the top of this page.
Validity Expiry
| IELTS (Academic) | Duolingo | TOEFL iBT | PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year for EAP | 6 months for EAP | 1 year for EAP | 1 year for EAP |